FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Toulouse

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Toulouse each year.
The main ones are listed below.

On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. On this day, sellers can be found on almost every corner!

Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.

Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and at various venues across Toulouse.

This holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution. It plays as a symbol of the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Toulouse, evening festivities include a concert at Prairie des Filtres and fireworks set off from barges floating on the Garonne.

This celebration, still very popular in Toulouse, is marked by several religious ceremonies.

The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public, such as castles and private collections. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!

On this day, French citizens gather at war memorials to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.

A traditional Christmas market is held in the Place du Capitole. Its welcoming log chalets all offer original gift ideas. An event not to be missed!

On the night of December 31^st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Bordeaux, with families and friends celebrating the new year.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Toulouse

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	2/36	9/48	51/2.0	Not the best period to go
February	3/37	11/52	52/2.0	Not the best period to go
March	5/41	14/57	49/1.9	Not the best period to go
April	7/45	17/63	70/2.8	Good period to go
May	11/52	21/70	74/2.9	Good period to go
June	14/57	25/77	60/2.4	Good period to go
July	16/61	28/82	37,7/1.5	Good period to go
August	16/61	28/82	47/1.9	Good period to go
September	13/55	25/77	47/1.9	Good period to go
October	10/50	19/66	57/2.2	Good period to go
November	6/43	13/55	51/2.0	Not the best period to go
December	3/37	10/50	52/2.0	Not the best period to go

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport

The Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is located in the town of Blagnac, about eight kilometres (five miles) northwest of Toulouse.

• One terminal, with four halls: A, B, C and D

• By car
  • Accessible via the A621 motorway. Travel time is about 15 minutes to the city centre.
  • Various parking facilities are available (drop-off area, short and long-term):
    • Express Drop-Off, one-minute walk: first ten minutes are free, then EUR 1.60 for 11-15 minutes and EUR 3.10 for 16-30 minutes. After 30 minutes, parking costs EUR 1.50 per extra 5 minutes.
    • Express Parking (P0), two-minute walk: first ten minutes are free, then EUR 1.70 for 11-15 minutes, EUR 2.10 for 16-30 minutes, EUR 3.30 for 31-45 minutes and EUR 4.20 for 46 minutes-1 hour.
    • Proxi Parking (P1, P2 and P3), between two and seven minutes' walk: EUR 20.20 for 24 hours, EUR 40.40 for 2 days.
    • Eco Parking (P5 and P6), accessed via a free shuttle that runs every ten minutes from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.: EUR 17.10 for 24 hours, EUR 31.90 for two days, EUR 41.90 for three days, and EUR 57.80 for seven days. For a complete pricing list, please visit www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en/passengers/to-and-from/car-park.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at halls C and D.
• By bus
  • Shuttle buses depart every 20 minutes from a stop outside exit C2 on the arrivals level. Travel time is 20 to 45 minutes. The buses run from 5:05 a.m. to 21:40 a.m. in the direction of the Toulouse bus station, and from 5:40 a.m. to 12:10 a.m. towards the airport. The fare is EUR 8.00 per trip.
  • Bus line 30 serves the MEETT (Toulouse Exhibition & Convention Centre) - EUR 1.70 per ride.
  • Bus line 88 operated by the conseil général de la Haute-Garonne serves the city of Toulouse and surrounding communities (EUR 2.20 per ride).
• By taxi
  • Taxi ranks are located outside the arrivals area, between exits B3 and C1. You may call ahead to make a reservation, +33 (0)5 61 30 02 54.
  • The fare to central Toulouse is approximately EUR 25.
• By tram
  • The new T2 line connects the airport with the city centre, with trams running every 9 to 15 minutes. The first departure from the city centre (Arènes) is at 5:35 a.m. and the last at 11:30 p.m. Travel time is between 20 and 30 minutes depending on the destination and the fare is EUR 1.70 each way.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, valet parking, and free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: +33 (0)825 380 000
• Website: www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en

GETTING AROUND Toulouse

Toulouse's public transport system is one of the best and most efficient in France. The city's buses and its metro offer excellent coverage and are both easy to use and convenient. Exploring the city centre on foot or by bicycle is also an excellent option, particularly given that there are many road restrictions in place around the Place du Capitole: it is worth avoiding using your car to get around.

By rail, bus and tram

• Two driverless Metro lines (VAL) serving 38 stations. Line A runs south-west (Basso-Cambo) to north-east (Balma-Gramont) via the city centre and train station. Line B runs north-west (from Borderouge) to south-east (Ramonville). Trains leave every minute at peak times, and operate from 5:15 a.m. to midnight (3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays).
• Two tram lines both terminate at the Palais de Justice station: the T1 line serves the MEETT (Toulouse Exhibition & Conference Centre) and the Aeroscopia museum, while the T2 line goes to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. Trams leave around every 5 minutes from 4:50 a.m. to 00:40 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 4:50 a.m. to 1:20 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Around 100 bus lines, including nine Linéo lines which operate chiefly on optimized routes and serve the city centre from 5:15 a.m. to 00:30 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 5:15 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Buses run every six to ten minutes during peak times.
• 1 bus line with extended evening hours:
  • from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays
  • from 9:30 p.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday
• Mobibus service available by request for persons with limited mobility and the visually impaired.
• A single fare for all modes of transport with only one fare zone (the same ticket may be used throughout Toulouse and its surrounding area)

• EUR 1.70 for a single trip
• EUR 14.50 for ten trips
• EUR 13 for a three-day ticket (valid on all modes of transport).

By car

For those who prefer to visit Toulouse by car, there are nearly 9,000 parking spaces available across various parking facilities. These paid facilities are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

By bicycle

Toulouse has its own public bike-sharing service, VélÔToulouse. Users may pick up and drop off bikes at any of the 283 stations around the city. Toulouse offers more than 500 km (311 miles) of cycling paths.

Rates:

• A ticket valid for one day costs EUR 1.20 (in addition to the ticket charge, the first half hour is free, the second costs EUR 0.50, EUR 1.50 up to two hours and EUR 2 per hour beyond that)
• A ticket valid for seven days costs EUR 5.00 (in addition to the ticket charge, the first half hour is free, the second costs EUR 0.50 and each subsequent hour costs EUR 1.00)

City Pass: Toulouse Pass Tourisme

These passes offer unlimited travel on all modes of transport in Toulouse (Metro, trams, buses and the airport shuttle) plus free or reduced admission fees for many museums, monuments and other tourist attractions, tours and cruises, leisure activities, etc.

Prices:

• 1 day: EUR 18
• 2 days: EUR 28
• 3 days: EUR 35

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Toulouse, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Offers practical information (sightseeing, tours, heritage sites and cultural institutions, nights out on the town, etc.) and publications for tourists on the city of Toulouse and its region.

• Address: Donjon du Capitole, square Charles de Gaulle, 31000 Toulouse
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Telephone: +33 (0)5 17 42 31 31
• Website: https://www.toulouse-visit.com/

The official tourism website of France has plenty of information available on Toulouse.

• Website: http://www.atout-france.fr/content/covid-19-1

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in France is the Euro (EUR).

1 SEK = 0,10 EUR

1 EUR = 10 SEK

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19

Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Toulouse counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr/
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Toulouse.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for France

As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:

• Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation
• Citizens or nationals of some foreign countries.

For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required. Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the country of permanent residence well in advance of departure.

For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa/

Useful addresses

Directory of foreign embassies and consulates in France

Contact information for the embassies and consulates of your country is accessible in the directory of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Toulouse, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+33

+ phone number (without 0)

0 : 00
of time difference with
Stockholm

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March

End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

Banks
Tuesday to Friday from 08:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (open until 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays)

Government Offices
Usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Toulouse like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.